"Kissmas" tree to light up Covent Garden

words by Tony Cross

The world's most interactive and intimate Christmas tree is set
to get visitors to London's Covent Garden kissing this Christmas.
The innovative installation, called Kiss and created by designer
Paul Cocksedge, lights up when two people kiss under the
mistletoe.

No kisses beneath the tree are likely to go unnoticed, with 50,000
bespoke white and red LEDs and 100 strobe lights illuminating
Covent Garden's Piazza the moment lips touch. The tree is just part
of Covent Garden's 'Merry Kissmas' celebrations.

Launch night will be Thursday 11 November, when thousands of people
are expected to pack the Piazza, which is a popular spot for
Christmas shopping and entertainment. Some of London's most
talented choirs will fill the market building with a repetoir of
romantic songs to match the kissing theme, and there will be a
range of special events on the night to kick off Christmas.

Thursdays in Covent Garden will be packed with Christmas events,
including a chance for tourists from abroad to kiss under the tree
and send video messages back to loved-ones back home. There will
also be plenty of love-inspired Christmas treats including
heart-shaped mince pies, aphrodisiac oysters and hand-made
chocolates.

Our exclusive image shows how the tree will look when two people
activate the lights by kissing beneath mistletoe. The real tree
arrives on 11 November. Visit http://www.coventgardenlondonuk.com/ or call
020 3047 2555 for more details of upcoming activities in Covent
Garden this Christmas.